Mikkel Stig Larsen
Danish Photographer, Mikkel Stig Larsen, lived in Chongqing for eight years, and is author of Impression of the Mountain City, Chongqing in the Eyes of a Dane
Chongqing has remarkable balance
During his time in Chongqing, Larsen had opportunities to explore and film across Chongqing, Dazu Rock Carvings, Three Gorges Cruise, White Emperor Town, Three Natural Bridges of Wulong, Fengjie Drought Kuimen, and was amazed by the unique karst landforms. Larsen believes that Chongqing has remarkable balance, that it is a city where the new and the old, the grand and the quaint, blend seamlessly. He delves into the masterful fusion of urban development and traditional culture and brings to life the awe-inspiring skyline, lively urban streets, towering skyscrapers, and the charm of ancient town culture. "Everyone has a unique perspective on Chongqing. Each photographer's perception of the scene and the way they capture it are unique. For the same scene, another photographer may choose a specific angle to shoot something completely differently. This not only depends on personal preferences, but sometimes is also influenced by different cultures."
Explore Chongqing's cultural traditions by lens
Larsen came to Chongqing In 2013. During his time as a photographer and social media editor at iChongqing, he filmed over 20 counties and districts in Chongqing, and through a series of works such as the Chongqing Travel Guide, he explored rich humanistic stories and traditional culture. "At the beginning, everything seemed so fresh and unique, completely different from the place where I grew up. There were no super tall buildings or undulating hills in Danish cities, and it was amazing to have them in a big city. I particularly enjoyed capturing the balance between city lighting and nature, as well as striving to capture the real life on the streets. In addition, small temples became one of my favourite filming locations because they provided a contrast with the modernisation."
Looking forward to more foreigners learning about Chongqing
During his stay, Chongqing underwent rapid changes and gradually became an international metropolis. When Larsen arrived, Chongqing was already modernizing, but there were still relatively few international residents. Children would greet you on the street, and occasionally someone would ask for a group photo. Now Chongqing has become a more international city and is more friendly to foreigners. He looks forward to more people from all over the world coming to Chongqing to learn about this unique and charming mega city.
Since Larsen’s arrival in China in 2011, he has resided in various cities, including Beijing, Changsha, Luoyang, Tianjin, and Chongqing. In 2022, he returned to Denmark with his wife. Larsen converted his Chongqing experiences into both written and visual stories, crafting a travelogue-style pictorial storybook. Utilizing his expertise as a professional photographer, he weaves Chinese tales and promotes Chongqing's cultural tourism. His goal is to enhance global awareness of this largely undiscovered mega-city, thereby facilitating cultural exchanges between China, Denmark, and the Nordic nations.